Symbiotic Relationships

Clownfish live among the poisonous tentacles of a sea anemone. The clownfish are protected from predators, and they keep the sea anemone clean.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Barnacles attach themselves to the shells of crabs. The barnacles receive a home and transportation.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Bees use a flower's nectar for food, and they carry a flower's pollen to other flowers, allowing the flowers to reproduce.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Dutch elm disease has caused mass destruction of elms. The fungus feeds on materials produced by the elm trees.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Orchids grow in tree branches. The orchids receive light, and their roots get water from the air.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Small mites live on your skin, eating dead skin cells.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Lichens are composed of a fungus and an alga. The alga makes food through photosynthesis, and this food is used by the fungus and the alga. The fungus absorbs nutrients from the environment that are used by the fungus and the alga.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Tapeworms live in the intestines of cats, where they absorb nutrients from the food the cats eat.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Cattle egrets forage (feed) in fields among cattle. The egret gets easy access to flying insects stirred up by the cattle, and the cattle don't care if they are there or not.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition

Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers.  The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds as they move from flower to flower.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Competition